To ask why you didn't have an epidural?

[sachabloom]

Currently 17 weeks and up until today has made the decision I wasn't getting an epidural, until someone asked me why I wasn't and to be honest I was a bit stumped! I guess my main reason is the fear of a bad back after... but I don't even know if that's a myth or truth?!

I haven't had a pain relief discussion with my midwife and as this is my first child, I'll be honest I'm quite in the dark.

Just curious really to hear of people's experiences as most people I've spoke to say no to epidural but I've never really asked why.

FWIW, absolutely no judgements from me, I think we're all fabulous however we do it.

I didn’t ask because the pain was bearable then I had a general anaesthetic. A epidural would’ve been better

With my first, I had a slow and very painful labour so despite not intending to I did have an epidural and it ended in an emergency CS. You have to be careful with correlation vs causation here. My baby was in the wrong position to be born (which is why it ended in a cs), that was why labour was so slow and painful (which is why I had the epidural).

My second was born super fast so the only pain relief I had time for was a couple of paracetamol before I left home! Was all a bit panic stations.

My third was my favourite labour. Fast but not so fast it caused a panic so there probably would have been time if I'd asked early enough but I never felt the need. I would still have asked if I had felt the need though.

From my experiences, I'd say keep an open mind. Have one if you feel like you need it. That first labour was way, way the most painful of the three and having the epidural was definitely the right decision.

I had a home birth as wanted limited intervention and knew it meant I couldn't have an epidural anyway. Research shows they slow down labour and more intervention required. I didn't want salad tongs going anywhere near my nether regions!

In terms of pain, it's not much worse than if you have ever had a tattoo that goes across your spine. It hurts!!!

but it's over it about 30seconds usually and wears off a few hours later so you will be able to get up that night.

But then you have to be told when to push

I was open minded re:pain relief. Told myself I'd ask for an epidural if I really couldn't cope. Ended up with gas and air and then a diamorphine injection. Just see how you get on. We all feel pain differently and every labour is different.

Congratulations on your impending new arrival OP! I hope reading about others' experiences helps, but as long as you make sure you're well informed and keep an open mind for the big day, you'll make the best decision for you and your baby.

I didn't have an epidural with my first as I wanted to give birth at the local Maternity Hospital and they didn't offer them, plus I wanted to be in the pool. I used a TENS machine for the first 10 hours, then had gas and air and have been quoted as having said "I feel like I'm about to pass out outside a kebab house". Utterly charming! Being in the water helped (although I never got the urge to push, so had to get out for the pushing stage), but overall, I found the experience incredibly painful and stressful - I felt totally out of control.

I had a 23.5 hour, corkscrew labour with no epidural and nobody came and presented me with a medal the next day. I was disappointed, and vowed only to give birth under the influence of an epidural in future...

I had an epidural with my second (after 3 hours of TENS, a shot of Pethadine, then gas and air) once the 'real' pain kicked in and I suddenly remembered how much it was going to hurt!

I was in a 'big' hospital that time round, so it was available. It was an easy procedure to have it inserted and I didn't have to have a catheter (which I was relieved about), it worked like a dream - I went from out of control, climbing the walls pain to pain-free within about 10 minutes. I could still feel the sensation of tightening during the contractions, but they didn't hurt. I even managed to fall asleep for 2 hours after I'd had it and woke up with the urge to push and upon examination I was 10 cm and ready to go!

There were no nasty side effects (for either me or baby) and was able to walk to the loo 20 minutes after she was born and was discharged 12 hours after the birth. 8.5 hours start to finish and a really easy, peaceful experience in comparison with my first.

Epidurals = Highly Recommended by this Mummy! Good luck OP!

After 8 hours of feeling like my spine was being torn from my body (back to back) with no progression... I chose to have an epidural. It was a “walking” one so I could still feel my legs and when to push. Gave birth 4 hours later.

Wish I’d done it first time around. For some reason I don’t seem to have the painless or manageable births that so many others on here describe

No lasting back issues, however I was scanned beforehand due to being born with spina bifida.

Wasn't even available at the hospital. Gas and air or pethidine or go without.
Was 1994 tho and not a routine thing offered in those days

I just didn't fancy a needle in my back, but the pain wasn't too bad in the first two and the third was too fast

I had no choice in the end and had to have one because I had to have forceps. But I just didn't feel like I needed one up to that point.

The thought of being immobilised terrified me, particularly the risk of permanently losing sensation. My friend had one and the needle accidentally went into her spinal space which gave her excruciating headaches for several days.

As it turned out it wasn't an option for me anyway - there wasn't enough time for one with either labour.

I didn’t need one. The pain was manageable on gas and air.

To be honest once I started sucking on that (don’t let them take it off you) I was flying on the back of a golden eagle to Mordor, I was fine.

I had one on my twin birth. Was amazing!!

Didn't have one for second birth coz no time. It hurt but was quick.

Had one with my first. Felt nothing when she was born, no rush of love I was expecting. Took a long time to bond etc. Later I came across an article that said syntocinon (sp?) given just before birth usually to help release the placenta, blocks your natural oxytocin, and that the pain experienced when pushing a baby out triggers more oxytocin so having both can effect bonding. I believed this nonsense and thought that a natural birth next time would mean I'd fall in love instantly. I had 2 home water births after with just gas and air and I did feel intense love instantly...but I don't think it has anything to do with the lack of pain relief. I really struggle with pain actually, and very long contractions, and I wouldn't put myself through natural birth again, although after the birth it was lovely being at home so I don't regret it. It's so individual.

First time I was too late for one by the time I got to hospital second time I didn’t want one because I knew I’d managed without it first time

Had managed without until point lg got stuck and I needed emergency section so ended up with spinal anyway. Second time was supposed to be planned section but ended up as emergency 5 days before planned date. No bad backs!

No epidural - why? - because an epidural involves some f*!k off massive super long needle inserted into the (I think) spine? ...

I am a wee bit bonkers, but not bonkers enough to go through that thank you very much!

Give me labour pain any day!

Bear in mind that even if you choose not to have an epidural, you could end up with one anyway if you need an EMCS. I had to have both an epidural and spinal block for my EMCS despite having had nothing through labour (fully dilated, baby got stuck). Then I had to have an epidural after my second vaginal birth because I had a 3rd degree tear which needed stitching up in theatre, even though I hadn't had anything more than gas and air during the labour and delivery.

The only alternative to spinal anasthesia in these cases is general anaesthetic, which carries far more risk.

Also, for those saying it's fine to manage the pain without, nobody can judge how the pain will be for others. Some people will manage easily without but there's no shame in having pain relief if you need it. I have a strangely positioned uterus and both labours I felt contractions only in my back - it was tortuous. If I were to have another child, I would choose an epidural.

Didn't have it cause they didn't think I was that far off. When they realised, was told that was no time!!! Felt cheated!

Didn’t like the idea of not feeling anything. Terrified of a needle going into my back, I know I would have jumped and I was scared of being paralysed. Also didn’t want the risk of needing forceps etc. The pain seemed easier to cope with.

For the record: an epidural and a spinal are not the same thing. I think there might be some confusion about this.

An epidural goes into the epidural space. This is just outside the dura mater, the membrane that surrounds and protects the spinal cord. An epidural is usually a continuous infusion. It can be placed anywhere along the spine. Usually it freezes from about the waist down.

A spinal involves puncturing the dura mater. It's effectively a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) but instead of taking out fluid they put in an injection. Usually a spinal is a single injection. It must be done in the lower back because it has to be given below the spinal cord - it involves puncturing the dura so there's a risk of damaging the spinal cord if you go any higher. A spinal provides complete anesthesia from the nipple line down. You can't move your legs at all with a spinal, whereas sometimes you can with an epidural.

Spinals are usually only used for sections. An epidural or a spinal can be used for a section, and an epidural can also be used for labour of course.

At no point did I consider letting someone stick a needle in my back. I was lucky, had short labours and both were born after a couple of pushes, there wasn't time for any pain relief. I might have talked the gas and air but wasn't offered it, and don't actually remember seeing any kind of equipment that might have been that.

I had one fur my first induced by syntocin. It was offered early on. I hated it. BP dropped and I felt faint and sick. Hated the catheter and the dead legs. Really hard to push. Felt totally undignified having other people holding my legs so I could push. Loads of damage as baby was pulled out of me.

Managed without next time. Had planned a home birth but had meconium stained waters. Syntocin drip again. Hurt like hell but was over in 4 hours. If it had gone on much longer I would have accepted the offer of an epidural. Took 70 minutes to push her out, nearly at the point of intervention. No way would I have managed it with an epidural.

People think I’m a mad martyr for not having an epidural but it was the right choice for me and I have no regrets.

Bonded well with both babies. The one with the epidural had more problems with jaundice and poor feeding which took a long time to resolve. She was quite bashed up when she was born.

Increased risk of intervention
Potentially detrimental to establishing breast feeding (cascade of intervention)
Didn't want a catheter
Preferred to have pain during the delivery then to be myself afterwards rather than vice versa.
Wanted to be able to go home ASAP
Wanted to avoid the awful headache that affects whatever percentage of people who are given epidural. The very next person after me that I knew who had a baby and epidural got the awful headache and couldn't breastfeed as a result

Plus the pain was never bad enough for me to have wanted / needed one